"Easy" is a song by indie pop band Pale Waves. Released 13 January 2021, it served as the third single from their second studio album, Who Am I?
| "Easy" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Pale Waves | ||||
| from the album Who Am I? | ||||
| Released | 13 January 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2020 | |||
| Genre | Pop punk,[1][2][3] synth-pop[2] | |||
| Length |
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| Label | Dirty Hit | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Pale Waves singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Easy" on YouTube | ||||
Music and lyrics
edit"Easy" was written by Pale Waves's guitarist and lyricist, Heather Baron-Gracie along with Sam de Jong; it was produced by Rich Costey.[4] According to Baron-Gracie, "Easy" is the "feel good love song" on the album.[5] "I feel like love is the most universal and most powerful emotion we experience," Baron-Gracie later explained in an interview with Apple Music. "Love can drive you to do crazy things [and "Easy" is] about how euphoric and uplifting love made me feel."[6]
Originally this track was envisioned as a piano ballad, but "it didn't fit together". Despite optimistic lyrics, "on the piano, it ... sound[ed] sad and a bit depressing."[5] When Baron-Gracie showcased the song for de Jong, the latter told her: "I love this song, but the music doesn't really suit what [you are] talking about, nor does it entirely represent the true meaning of 'easy'."[7] Baron-Gracie and de Jong consequently reworked the song, metamorphosing it from a "depressing emo ballad" into an "uplifting, feel-good song".[7] One element that was added to the song at this time was the heavier guitar riff that plays during the chorus. This riff was inspired by "grungy, super-catchy" guitar lines in songs by "strong female artists" like Courtney Love, Alanis Morissette, and Liz Phair. Initially, Baron-Gracie and de Jong debated whether the riff belonged in the final cut, but in the end, Baron-Gracie felt that it added "another element" to the song.[5]
Music video
edit
A video for "Easy" was released on 13 January 2021.[9] Directed by James Slater, this video was inspired by the "gothic medieval aesthetic and ... Tim Burton films", according to Baron-Gracie.[8] As of April 2024[ref], the video has been viewed over 2.3 million times on YouTube.[10]
Release and reception
edit"Easy" was released as the third single from Who Am I?, and it debuted on 13 January 2021, premiering on BBC Radio 1.[8] The song later peaked at number 43 on Radiomonitor's "UK Radio Airplay Top 50" chart.[11]
Personnel
editCredits adapted from the liner notes of Who Am I?[4]
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Pale Waves
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Technical
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Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Radio Airplay Top 50 (Radiomonitor)[11] | 43 |
Release history
edit| Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 13 January 2021 | Digital download, streaming | [8] |
References
edit- ^ Kinnett, Tristan (14 January 2021). "Pale Waves Channel Pop Punk in New Video for 'Easy'". MXDWN. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ a b Kacy, Megan T. (20 January 2022). "It's 'Easy' To Fall In Love With Pale Waves' Latest Single". Sound Digest. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ Ferlita, Gabriella (10 February 2021). "Album Review: Pale Waves give pop-punk a makeover on 'Who Am I?'". Riff Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ^ a b Pale Waves (2021). Who Am I? (Vinyl record liner notes). London, UK: Dirty Hit.
- ^ a b c Williams, Sophie; Baron-Gracie, Heather (12 February 2021). Pale Waves – 'Who Am I?' | Track By Track. NME. YouTube. Event occurs at 7:24–10:22.
- ^ "Who Am I?". Apple Music. 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022.
- ^ a b Baron-Gracie, Heather (2021). "Pale Waves on 'Easy'". Apple Music. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d Skinner, Tom (13 January 2021). "Watch the Gothic Video for Pale Waves' New Single 'Easy'". NME. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (13 January 2021). "Watch the gothic video for Pale Waves' new single 'Easy'". NME. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Pale Waves (2020). "Pale Waves – Easy". Vevo. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "UK Airplay". Music Week. April 2021. p. 94. Retrieved 8 September 2022.